2011: Nearly $1 Billion in Road, Bridge Investments

Governor Deval Patrick today joined state and local officials at the Dorchester Avenue reconstruction project at Glover’s Corner in Dorchester to announce that the 2011 road and bridge construction effort will invest $931 million in road and bridge repair projects, creating thousands of jobs and improving our infrastructure.

The 2011 road and bridge funds administered by MassDOT build on previous record annual investments and are nearly double the amount spent in 2007. The annual construction program includes approximately 450 projects, including 300 active construction projects and 150 maintenance projects.

“We are literally building a legacy of investing for the future in communities across the Commonwealth,” said Governor Patrick.

The $15.6 million Dorchester Avenue project is reconstructing the busy Dorchester Avenue corridor at 15 intersections, with major road, traffic signal, and sidewalk crossing improvements. The project began in 2010 and is on time and on budget, with completion expected in fall 2012.

Fiscal 2011's statewide $931 million capital program includes $550 million in the Statewide Road and Bridge Program, $208 million in the Administration's historic Accelerated Bridge Program, and $173 million in federal American Recovery and Reinvestment funds.

The Accelerated Bridge Program (ABP) is an unprecedented investment in reducing the number of structurally deficient bridges in Massachusetts. Already, the program has reduced the number of structurally deficient bridges from 543 to 458, a cut of more than 15%. Forty two ABP projects are complete, 69 are in progress, and 28 are scheduled to begin this year.

Among the other major projects under construction in 2011:

• The $57.5 million Great River Bridge project in Westfield, with a new bridge over the Westfield River and reconstruction of the existing historic bridge. • The $36.8 million innovative “Design-Build” I-495 Bridge Bundle project in Lowell and Tewksbury.• The Charles River Basin bridge projects, including the Craigie Drawbridge and rehabilitation of the historic Longfellow Bridge.• The $35 million Neponset River Bridge Phase II project in Quincy. • The $28.1 million reconstruction of the Hadley Overpass carrying Route 8 over the Hoosic River in North Adams. • The “93Fast14” project to replace 14 bridge structures along I-93 in Medford, with all major work during weekends only in summer 2011.

MassDOT is reminding members of the public that work-related activities and traffic impacts as part of the Tobin Bridge Rehabilitation Project are currently expected to begin in April after MassDOT conducts an outreach process to inform the public of project impacts. To allow crews and …Continue Reading Tobin Bridge Project Begins in April

MassDOT is reminding members of the public that work-related activities and traffic impacts as part of the Tobin Bridge Rehabilitation Project are currently expected to begin in April after MassDOT conducts an outreach process to inform the public of project impacts. To allow crews and …Continue Reading Tobin Bridge Project Begins in April

One thought on “2011: Nearly $1 Billion in Road, Bridge Investments”

Unfortunately it seems that our Governor forgot one of the biggest issues in our state: the Rout 2 rotary in Concord MA. Thousands of people that take the Route 2 has to pass by that rotary daily. The rotary in conjunction with the short green traffic lights along the road delay the commute of so many people who live in the northwest by at least 30 min each day. It’s been like that for many years and we all know that there is a way to solve that issue and make the route 2 better. ============================================ Thanks for the comment. Replacing the rotary with a highway interchange is a priority. First, regarding just the traffic lights, MassDOT has worked over the past 2 years to modify signal timings and restore coordination for the signals from the rotary to Tracey’s Circle. Long term, addressing the Rotary remains a priority. Current facts: An Environmental Notification Form (ENF) has been filed for this project. The preparation of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR) will be required. MassDOT has awarded a consultant contract for the preparation of a Draft and Final EA/EIR and beginning Design. A Draft EIR/EA is expected in Late 2011, with a Final EIR/EA in Summer 2012. Preliminary design at the 25% stage is expected by Late 2012. Completed design is expected by the end of 2013. Construction could begin in 2014 and completed in 2016/2017. Issue: Test results of the Assabet River Bridge showed chloride concentrations above the level for corrosion to begin. It has been determined that options to replace the Assabet River Bridge will need to be studied.